Ditching-machine



(No Model.) 2 sheetssheet `1.

I. B. HAMMOND.

` l DITGHING MACHINE. Y

' No. 289,410. Patented Dec. 4, 18.83.

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PATENT irren.

ISAAC B. HAMMOND, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

DlTcHlNe- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 289,@10, dated December 4:, 1883.

.Application filed February 15, 1883. (No model.)

To cZZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC B. HAMMOND, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new anduscful Improvement in Ditching-Machines; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and

-to the letters of reference marked thereon,

.thus cut.

which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to machines for cutting trenches for draining o r other purposes; and it is my obj ect to produce a simple machine arranged to be pulled by horses, having a vertically-adjustable plow-shoe for cutting` the earth and for delivering it upon a belt-conveyer, that is driven by an endless traction` belt and elevates the earth sufficiently to dump it on an inclined apron, over which such earth will slide to either side away from the ditch Therefore my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l rep resents a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2, a plan omitting the apron `and conveyerbelt; Fig. 3, a rear end elevation; Fig. et, adetached perspective View of the plow-shoe and its connections, Fig. 5, an end view of the plow-shoe, and Fig. 6 a section on line x w in Fig. 1.

Corresponding letters in the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

The main frame is composed of two sections, A and B, each section consisting of two side bars or beams suitably braced together. These sections A and B are coupled together by a pivot bolt or shaft, a.. Between the bars of forward section A are pivoted pulleys C, D, and E, and to the front end of 'these bars is pivotally connected by hinge-plates and a bolt, b, the rear edge of the plow-spade F. This plow-spade F has hinged to its `side edges colter-plates G, that have rearwardly-inclined cutting-edges, and are inwardly bent on top, where eachhas secured aslotted angle-bar, c, that overlap each other, and are adjustably secured together by a bolt, d, for laterally holding such plates G at any position relative to plate F that is desirable for cutting the slope of the ditch to a more or less obtuse angle.

To bars of frame-section A, intermediate of pulleys C ,and D, are rigidly secured two upwardly extending and forwardly g leaning brackets, j, between which is pivotally coupled by a bolt, k, the forward end of the rearwardlyinclined frame I.

The rear end of frame-sectionBis expanded to form a platform, I-I, and is supported on axle h of wagon-wheels fi. A

The frame I is composed of two parallel side bars, that are suitably braced together, and have bolted against their upper extremities journal-boxes for the shaft of a pulley, J. The rear elevated end of frame I is supported on frame-section B by standards K.

An endless belt, L, is stretched over pulleys C and D, and has secured at equal intervals upon its exterior surface a series of cross-bars, Z, formed of angleor U-shaped iron, and over pulleys E and J is stretched another endless belt, M, that has also secured upon its exte- Vdistance with those of belt L. The lower side of beltL will rest on the surface of the fur- ,t row cut by plow-spade F, with its cross-bars pressinginto the ground, and thus causing a traction with the advancement of the'machine, and the bottom side of belt M first following theperiphery of pulley D, and then resting upon the upper side of belt L, the cross-bars Zand m will mesh each other in such manner that the motion of belt L will be transmitted to belt M, which latter will thus remove on its upper surface the earth that is crowded onto it by the advancing plow-spade, 'andwill convey such earth rearward and upward, the cross-bars m here acting as scoops or carriers. The upper side of belt L is supported, on a series of rollers, n, thatvare pivoted between the side bars of frame` I. The earth thus conveyed and elevated, after reaching pulley J, will dump upon an inclined apron, N, that is reversibly supported at its upper end on a bar,I o, secured to the side of frame I, and sustained by a brace, p, that is adj ustably coupled to a standard, l, by a bolt passed through any one of a series of holesin such standards K. At its lower end the apron is propped by two slotted bars, g, that" are lapped against each other, and are extensibly ditch the desired depth.

securedtogether by a boltr. (Sec Fig. 3.) By l For transporting the machine from one lothis arrangement the earth can be discharged to either: side of the machine over hind wheels, t'.

To the upper ends of colter-plates G are pivotally connected the ends of two side rods, s, the opposite ends of which are coupled to cranks t, that are mounted upon a shaft, O, pivoted in bracket-bearings which'are secured upon platform H. Upon the middle of this shaft O is secured a lever7 I), that has a springbolt, u, to engage with any one lof a series of notches of a quadrant, Q, which is rigidly mounted upon platform II. The plow-spade,

F is thus held to a horizontal line, or can be tipped from the platform by lever I, to cut a furrow of more or less depth.

A double-tree, B, is coupled to the front of the machine by a draw-bar, T, the rear bifurcated ends of which are secured to frame A, while its front end projects out above the plow-shoe. This double-tree Bis of such a length that the horses traced to the whiffletrees S will walk eXteriorly of the hills of earth deposited from the apron N.

The machine being pulled along by the horses, the plow-spade F will cut the earth to a depth determined by the angle to which it is set and held by lever I, while the colterplates G will form the slope, and the front end of the machine riding upon pulleys C and D, that follow the plow-shoe, and upon the under side of belt L, stretched over these pulleys, the cross-bars Z of such belt will be pressed into the ground, and will cause a firm hold and continuous traction of such belt in a manner that its upper surface will have a continuous forward movement equal to the forward speed of the machine, and the conveyer or elevator belt M resting with its forward lower face upon traction-belt L, the motion imparted to such, belt L will be transmitted to belt M in such manner that its upper face willtravel rearward with an equal velocity as that with which the machine is pulled forward. The earth thus cut or loosened by the plow, being crowded upon the lower end of belt M, will be carried off with such uniform velocity that such earth is removed from the plow-shoe in a continuous slice as fast as it is cut, and is elevated to the necessary height for dumping it upon and discharging it over apron N to a location where it will be clear of the track of the hind wheels, Z, and of the horses, while the machine is pulled forward and backward several times for cutting the The pulleys C D, with traction-belt L,will follow and ride upon the bottoln of the vditch cut by plow-spade F independently of any unevenness of the ground over which the hind wheels, i, may have to pass, since the frame-section B is pivotally connected to frame-section A by bolt or shaft a. Such plow-spade will be guided by the pulleys C D to cut the ditch level, regardless of any slight undulations of the ground.

cation to another, the front end of frame A, with plow F, is raised to clear the ground and to bring the entire weight 'of the front end of the machine to rest upon pulley C, and in this position the machine is locked by struts V, that are pivotally secured against the sides of frame I, and are turned down upon the rearward ends of frame-section A, for holding the same down.

This machine is simple in its construction, and is easy to handle, while it will perform quick work with comparatively little power, and it is particularly adapted for making ditches fo'r drain-pipes.

lVhat I claim is- Y l. In a ditching-machine, the endless traction-belt L, stretched over pulleys C D and having cross-bars Z, in combination with elevator-belt M, stretched over pulleys E and J and having cross-barsm, such cross-bars Zand m meshing each other in a manner to transmit motion from one belt to the other, substantially as set forth.

2. In a ditching-machine, the combination,

with plow-spade F, of pulleys C D, with traction-belt L, having cross-bars Z, and of pulleys E and J, with elevator-belt M, having cross-bars on, such cross-bars Z and m meshing each other and transmitting motion from belt L to belt M, all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a ditching-machine, the main frame, composed of sections A and B, that are pivotally connected by a bolt, a, frame-section Ahaving plow-spade F, being supported on pulleys C D and traction-belt Land carrying the front end of elevator-frame I, and frame-section B being supported on axle h of wheels fZ and carrying the rear end of elevator-frame I, all constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a ditching-machine, the pivotallyconnected frame-sections A B, section A having plow-spade F and being supported on pulleys C D and endless traction-belt L, that travels in the bottom of the ditch, and framesection B being supported on wheels t', that travel at the sides of the ditch, -all substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a ditching machine, the pivotallyconnected frames A B, supported on wheels t and on pulleysv C D, with endless belt L, having cross-barsZ and carrying plow-spade F, pulley E, elevator-frame I, with pulley J, and endless belt M, and inclined apron N, all constructed and arranged to operate substantially as set forth.

6. In a ditching-machine, the combination, with elevator belt M, driven by traction, of plow-spade F, having side or colter plates, G, hinged to its edges, each provided with a slotted bar, c, for adj ustably securing them to the desired slope by a bolt, (Z, all substantially as set forth.

7. In a ditching-machine, the combination,

IOO

IIO

with elevator-belt M, of plow-Shoe F G, pivmy invention I affix my signature in presence otally connected with its heel to the front end of two Witnesses. of frame A, and connected by rods s With arms t of shaft O, having lever P, that is adjustably ISAAC B HAMMOND' 5 looked with quadrant Q, al1 substantially as Witnesses:

and for the purpose described and shown. LOUIS NOLTING,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as II. NV. HAEHL. 

